WELLINGTON, NZ -- Oct. 16: The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club held the first of its Island Bay races to kick off the Southern Hemisphere spring. This 20nm race started Lambton Harbour in the heart of Wellington, sailed across the top of Evans Bay, turned south and sailed out of Wellington Heads. Once out side the harbour limits we then sailed west/north west into Cook Strait - which can be quite nasty at the best of times - up around the turning marks just past Island Bay and back the same way to finish outside the clubrooms in Oriental Bay.
The forecast was lousy for the day with 30-35 knots becoming gale force and beyond. For myself and the team on PRIME MOVER, a Farr 1104 sponsored by Tuatara Brewery, we had our work cut out for us. The wind was already at 35 knots from the north and building fast. We reached under main and jib off the start heading east across the top of Evans Bay bearing away around Pt. Halswell until we could get a spinnaker up. It wasn�t long after the spinnaker was hoisted when the wind jumped to 40 knots. This proved to be costly for us � see picture - but with a reasonably quick recovery we were off again.
As we neared the harbour limits, we needed to gybe, but with the wind still building we decided to drop the spinnaker and go to a jib. This proved to be a smart move for us as the wind was now a constant 40 � 45 with some gusts reaching 48 knots. We picked up a number of boats finishing in a good position: 6th across the line, 4th fastest time, 4th on club handicap, 3rd on PHRF and 2nd on IRC. Down here in Wellington, boats, sails and gear take an absolute pounding. It is testimony to the fantastic product designed and built by John Penfold and UK Halsey Sailmakers in Sydney that we on PRIME MOVER survive and race so well.
-Wade McGee
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